High School: Seattle Preparatory School
Post-Graduation Plans: University of British Columbia Vancouver
Course of Study: Applied Sciences
The past seven years have been the hardest, most challenging, and most fulfilling years that I
can remember. I joined SGC as a second-year Allegra chorister and have stayed ever since.
Before auditioning, I had been in a church choir for years, and it was my mom who actually
found the audition for SGC. I did not know at the time what I was getting myself into, but I am so
glad that my mom made me try it out.
I could try to recall countless memories from my time in SGC, but one of the most memorable,
and honestly funniest was from our tour two years ago. One day after a concert in Piccadilly
Circus in London, we were all walking around in our matching performance dresses. The sight
alone was hilarious: 32 girls running around the middle of London all wearing identical black
dresses. It made us look more than a little strange, but I digress.
After the craziness of all that, a few of my friends and I went to Westminster Abbey. Walking
around the Abbey itself, we stumbled upon Benjamin Britten’s plaque. For those who don’t
know, Benjamin Britten is the composer of A Ceremony of Carols, which is the cornerstone of
our winter music every year. Finding this plaque and of course, taking a mandatory selfie with it,
it made me start thinking.
In that moment, and looking back on it now, it made me truly reflect on my time in choir. I would
have never known who Benjamin Britten was if I hadn’t done choir. I would have never had
those specific friends to explore the Abbey with if it wasn’t for choir. And I wouldn’t have ever
been in London, singing for people and being around the people I love, if it wasn’t for this
organization and its opportunities.
As many people know, I am also a massive sports lover. Ever since I was little, I’ve always
played sports and been athletic, and it has been great for me. But choir is its own sport. I’ve
come to realize it is mentally hard, physically straining at times, and with the sheer amount of
music we learn, I’m always amazed that we just don’t run out of brain space.
But to me, choir isn’t just about the music we sing, the things we do, the time commitment, or
the long rehearsals. It’s not about where we sing, and it’s not about the funny black dresses that
we wear. It’s about the people that we do it with. It’s about the people who show up the same
way you do day after day, week after week, year after year, all because we enjoy and love the
same thing.
At 18 years old, not a lot of people can say they’ve been friends with the same group of people
for over seven years, but I can. The quality of people that I have found and met through this
organization is honestly astounding to me. Everyone is genuinely kind, supportive, and loving.
Some of my absolute best friends were made through choir. I have found role models, peers,
and even people who I share a friendly competition with once in a while. I owe them everything.
They’ve done so much for me over the years, being my friends, laughing, joking, and supporting
me through all the craziness that life is. There is nothing in the world I would trade them for.
I would also like to take a moment to thank Sarra. I have been lucky to have Sarra as a director
for five years: one year in Allegra and the past four years in PV. She is the definition of this
choir. She is loving and caring, but she also cares deeply about the music we make and our
impact on others. She wants the best for us, and she pushes us because she knows what we
are capable of, even when we think we can’t or when we don’t want to be pushed. Thank you
for shaping us into the musicians that we are today, and thank you believing in us. Everyone in
this choir, myself included love you and owe you a lot.
I would also like to thank Lauren. I know I’ve only known you for a few years now, but thank you
so much for everything you’ve done. You are so easy to talk to, so funny, and you fit Sorella so
well. It has been an honor to be under your direction the past three years, and I will always
remember your white jean jacket.